Enhanced detection of hepatitis B virus in Hong Kong blood donors after introduction of a more sensitive transcription-mediated amplification assay

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 53; no. 10pt2; pp. 2477 - 2488
• Main Authors: Tsoi, Wai-Chiu, Lelie, Nico, Lin, Che-Kit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Algorithms; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data; Blood Safety - methods; Blood Safety - standards; DNA, Viral - genetics; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B - diagnosis; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - genetics; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - classification; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis B virus - isolation & purification; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Humans; Mass Screening - methods; Mass Screening - standards; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques - methods; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques - standards; Quality Improvement; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Transcription, Genetic - physiology; Transfusion Reaction; World Health Organization; China, People's Rep., Hong Kong

Background A total of 517,072 and 399,326 consecutive donations were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) by individual‐donation nucleic acid testing (ID‐NAT) using Ultrio and Ultrio Plus assays (Novartis Diagnostics), respectively. The impact of more sensitive HBV detection by the latter assay vers...